Safety razor



Oct. 18, 1932. M TUA 1,883,131

' A SAFETY RAZOR l Filed July 2. 1950 l0 ?0 sNvENToR Y Ma rias 'Tua BY Z L ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1932 'MARIUS TUA, 0F UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY SAFETY RAZOR Application led .Tuly 2, 1930. Serial No. 465,300.

This invention providesan improvement in the design of a certain type of safety razor rendering Ithe razor capable of three adjustments. There is an adjustment for clamping the blade in operative position, an adjustment in which the blade-clamping means are partly opened with the blade exposed for cleansing, and an adjustment in which the blade-holding means are fully opened for the removal of the blade and the new one. In all of these adjustments the various parts ofthe razor, with the exception of the blade, remain permanently attached to each other. A razor of this character, with non-detachable parts requires a blade of special design providing for its insertion and removal. An important object of the invention is to provide a blade suitably designed for this purpose.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view gf the safety razor, taken on the line 1-1 of Figj?. a ,side elevation of the razor with the handle partly .broken away;

Fig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the blade-clamping plate partly retracted from the blade for cleansing the razor;

Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the blade-clamping plate fully retracted from the blade for the withdrawal of the latter;

Fig. 5 a section, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the blade in plan;

Fig. 6 a detail section through the clamping plate shank, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; y

Fig. 7 a. blade;

Fig. 8 a plan View of a modified bladesupporting guard for cooperation with the blade shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 a'sectional perspective view of a modified clamping plate associated with said modified blade and Figs. 10 and l1 plan views showing additional blade modifications.

The safety razor comprises mainly, a blade supporting head or guard 1, a blade 2, a clamping plate 3 for clamping the blade to the guard, and a handle 4 for the guard. 50 The guard is in the form of a plate substanplan view of a modified form of insertion of av tially rectangular in contour, transversely curved and formed with guard teeth 5 along its longitudinal edges. At its under side the guard is formed with a central boss 6 which is bored out to form part of a swivel connection between the guard and the handle 4. In form the handle is straight and tubular and at its upper end it is formed with a journal portion 7 rotatably fitted in said bore. At the root of the journal 7 the handle is formed 30 with a shoulder fiange 8 to abut the boss 6, and a shoulder rib or fiange 9 is spun upon lthe handle at the upper end of the journal. The latter fiange is countersunk in the guard. Thereby the handle is rotatablyI held to the guard.

The clamping plate 3 is also of rectangular form, substantially equal to the guard in length but of less Width. At its center it is formed with an inwardly extending shank 10 70 perpendicular to the clamping face of the plate 3; and at points equally spaced longitudinally from the central shank it is formed with two inwardly extending blade-retaining pins 11 parallel with the shank. These 75 pins have tapered ends and are adapted to be passed through apertures or cutouts in the blade and also through two round apertures 12 formed in the guard. The swiveled end of the tubular handle is open and, at an intermediateqpoint in its length, the handle is formed with a choke portion 13 of reduced diameter, which is internally threaded as at 14. Shank 10 of the clamping plate extends through the open, swiveled end of the handle 35 and inward through the threaded portion 13. Adjacent the clamping plate the shank is formed with a straight cylindrical neck 15 of uniform diameter which passes through a cut-out in the blade. Inwardly of said neck 9o the shank is formed in succession with an enlarged cylindrical portion 16, a reduced threaded portion 17 and a further reduced end portion 18 which terminates in a head 19 forming a stop shoulder. The cylindrical 95 portion 16 is slidably fitted in the bore of the handle and is obliquely slitted as at 20 .to form two compressible spring fingers which frictionally resist longitudinal shifting of the shank in the handle bore.

The

threaded portion 17 is normally engaged with the threads 14 within the handle and the head 19 at thev end of the shank is adapted to abut the choked portion of the handle and positively limit outward shifting of the shank. At its free end the handle is provided with a knurled knob for turning it.

The blade is of a thin, flat, double-edged type having its edges parallel and its ends slightly rounded. A cut-out in the form of an elongated slot 21 extends inward from one end of the blade to the center thereof, along a longitudinal center line. At its inner end said slot is rounded and at its outer end its edges are rounded slightly as at 22 to define a slightly flared entrance to the slot. Between its ends the slot is of uniform width.' At a point spaced from the closed inner end of the slot a distance equal to that between the blade-retaining pins 11 of the clamping plate and with a cut-out in the form of a round aperture 23. The diameter of said aperture is equal to the width of slot 21 and the two are adapted to snugly receive the two retaining pins. Between the slot 21 and the aperture 23 there is a solid web of the blade. When the razor is completely assembled and operatively adjusted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the blade 2 is seated upon the guard, the clamping plate 3 bears against the blade and the blade-retaining pins 11 extend through the blade cut-outs 21 and 23 and through the apertures 12 in the guard. By turning the handle in screwing direction relatively to the guard, the shank of the clamping plate is drawn inward, by means of its threaded connection with the handle, to pull the plate against the razor and {lex the latter to the proper degree. The blade is then firmly held in operative position, the engagement of the pins 11 and the shank in the cut-outs` 21 and 23 holding it positively against edgewise displacement. After using the razor it may be readily opened for cleansing by turning the handle in the opposite, un-screwing direction relatively to the guard until the threaded portion 17 of the shank is freed from the threads 14 of the handle. The clamping plate then occupies an outwardly thrust position away from the guard, as shown in Fig. 3, and the blade together with the opposed clamping surfaces of the plate and guard are exposed for flushing and wiping. Pins 11 are longer than the threaded portion of the shank and are still engaged in the blade cut-outs and in the apertures in the guards, and the blade is held a ainst withdrawal. Frictional resistance o the slit shank portion 16 in the handle yieldably holds the clamping plate in this open but blade-retaining position.

When it is reqbuired to remove the blade for replacement y a new one the clamping plate is drawn youtward against said fricthe shank 10, the blade is formed.

tional resistance until the head 19 upon the inner end of the shank abuts the choked portion of the handle. This positively stops the outward shift of the clamping plate and the latter remains attached to the guard and the handle, but with the retaining pins 11 freed from the blade and from the guard. By merely grasping the uncut end of the blade and pulling 1t outward endwise the blade may be readily Withdrawn, the slot 21 providing clearance for shifting the blade past the neck of the shank. In a reverse manner a new blade -may be readil inserted. The blade may also be removed y merely grasping the handle tilting it -to the proper angle, and shaking the holder if necessary, to cause the blade to drop out, without the necessity of touching it. In Fig. 4 the blade is indicated by dotted lines as partly withdrawn. The said rictional resistance of the shank now prevents undesired slipping of the clamping plate to closed position. When a blade has been inserted the clamping plate is pushed inward against the frictional resistance to engage the shank threads 17 with the handle threads 14, and the handle is turned to'draw the shank inward and press the clamping plate against the blade. The invention provides for the convenient cleansing of the razor, and the withdrawal and insertion of blades without detaching any of the other parts.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified blade 2* having a substantially triangular, inwardly pointed aperture 24 and an elongated slot 25 whose edges converge inwardly, as at, 26, at the entrance o the slot. Preferably the converging edges of said aperture and of said "slotentrance are of material length and the angle included thereby is acute. This blade is designed to receive and properly engage retaining pins l1EL varying in size and spacing, within certain limits. This feature of blade design permits alteration of the razor body by changing the size, shape and spacing of the blade-retaining pins within certain limits without the necessity of altering the blades. Fig. 8 shows a guard 1f* formed with triangular apertures 27 having edges converging inwardly toward the center of the guard. This guard will also vreceive and properly engage retaining pins whose size and spacing varies within certain li-mits. A clamping plate 3l of modified form is shown in Fig. 9 associated with blade 2. Said clamping plate has only a single blade-retaining pin 11. This pin is formed and located for properly engaging in the apertures 23 and 24 of the blades 2 and 2a. A slight variation of blade 2a is shown in Fig. 10. Here the blade 2" has its aperture defined by curved edges 28, and the converging edges 29 at the entrance of the slot are also curved. Otherwise the blade is like blade 2a. Fig. 11 shows a blade 2 similar to blade 2 except that the aperture clamping plate and 23 of the latter is replaced by a short, straight slot 30 opening through the adjacent end of the blade. The retaining pin ll of the guard 3a is properly engageable in the aperture 28 of blade 2b and in the slot 30 of blade 2". These blades will also accommodate a standard clamping member provided with two retaining pins.

What I claim is:

1. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting head; a tubular handle; a swivel connection between said head and handle; a blade mounted upon the head and formed with an elongated cut-out extending longitudinally inward from one end of the blade to the center thereof and a cut-out spaced from the inner end of said elongated cut-out and separated from it by a solid portion of the blade; a blade-clamping plate opposed to the blade-supporting head, for holding the blade to the head; a shank carried by said bladeextending through -said elongated cut-out and said swivel connection and into the tubular handle and fitted in the latter for longitudinal shifting; a threaded connection between said shank and handle for holding the clamping plate against the blade, said connection being releasable by turning the handle at its swivel connection; a retaining pin carried by the blade-clamping plate and projecting through said second cut-out, s'aid pin being retractable from the cut-out by outward shifting of the clamping plate and its shank when the threaded connection is released; means to yieldably resist longitudinal shi fting of the shank; and means to positively limit said outward shift of the clamping plate and prevent the detachment thereof.

2. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting guard; a tubular handle; a swivel connection between said guard and handle; a blade-clampingI plate opposed to the guard for holding a blade to the guard; a shank carried by said blade-clamping member and extending through said swivel connection and into the tubular handle and fitted in the latter for longitudinal shifting; a threaded connection between said shank and handle for holding the clamping plate against the blade, said connection being releasable by turning the handle at its swivel connection; a blade-retaining pin carried by the blade-clamping plate and extending through the guard when the blade is clamped, said pin being longer than said threaded connection and retractable from the blade by outward shifting of the clamping plate and its shank when the threaded connection is released; means to yieldably resist longitudinal shifting of the shank; and means to positively limit said outward shift of the clamping plate and prevent detachment thereof.

3. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting head; a tubular handle; a swivel connection between said head and handle constantly holding them together; a shiftable blade-clamping member opposed to said blade-supporting head for holding a blade to the head; a shank carried by said bladeclamping member extending longitudinall into the handle and longitudinally shiftable therein; a locking connection between said shank and handle to hold the clamping member in blade-clamping position, said locking connection being lockable and releasable by turning the handle; blade-retaining means to hold the blade against`removal during alimited range of separation of the supporting head and clamping member and adapted to release the blade for removal upon further separation of said head and clamping member, means to yieldably resist said further separation of the head and clamping member when said'locking means is released; and Ine-ans to positively limit said further separation of the head and clamping member.

4. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting head; a tubular handle; a swivel connection between said head and handle constantly holding them together; a shiftable blade-clamping member opposed to said blade-supporting head for holding a blade to the head; ashank carried by said bladeclamping member extending longitudinally into the handle and longitudinally shiftable therein; blade-retaining means to hold the blade against removal uring a limited range of separation of the clamping member and head and adapted to release the blade for removal upon further separation; a threaded connection between said shank and handle to hold the clamping member in clamping position and adapted, by unscrewing rotation of the handle, to force the shank outward and shift the clamping member away from the blade-supporting head and release the shank materially before the retaining limit of said blade-retaining means has been reached; means to yieldably resist further outward shifting of the clamping member to free the blade from the retaining means; and means to positively limit said further separation of the head and clamping member.

5. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting head; a tubular handle; a swivel connection between said head and handle constantly holding them together; a shiftable blade-clamping member opposed to said blade-supporting head for holding a blade to the head; a shank carried by said bladeclamping member extending longitudinally into the handle and longitudinally shiftable therein; blade-retaining means to hold the blade against removal during a limited range of separation of the clamping member and head and adapted to moval upon further separation; a threaded connection between said shank and handle to hold the clampingmember in clamping position and adapted, by unscrewing rotarelease the blade for retion of the handle, to Jforce the shank out- Ward and shift the clamping member away from the blade-supporting head and release the shank materially before the retaining limit of said blade-retaining means has been reached; and means to yieldably resist' further outward shifting of the clamping member to free the blade from the retaining means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

MARIUS TUA. 

